Weekly Log

March 28, 2023

We received our call! We will be Record Preservation Specialists and be serving mostly in Springfield, MO. Not what we expected at all. We have been reminded that God's plan isn't always ours. We know and have faith that we have been called to serve right where we are needed. We are getting excited for the adventures of Christ that lay ahead. 

April 10, 2023

We will be working at the Springfield, Missouri public library directly with Family Tree to record (scan) books and documents to be digitized for family history purposes. We will open the assignment in the area. We will have to set up an apartment to be used after we leave in 23 months. We will work each day entirely at the library. We will wear Family Tree badges at the library. Outside the library, we will wear our mission badges. We will not have any assignments given to us by the mission area president. We have been told we can get involved as we can, but the scanning is our main purpose. They really want us to set a strong foundation of peaceful relations with the library so that this work can continue as long as needed. Still, not what we expected but still very exciting.

May 9, 2023

Family and Friends, we want to let you know we will be speaking at church on June 18th at 9 a.m. We will be speaking at the same time as our Stake High Councilman, there will be a musical number and it is Father's Day, therefore our talks will be short and quick. We do not expect anyone to attend. We will share our talks via voice recording. 

July 10, 2023

We are t-minus 7 days. This time next week we will be entering the MTC. It feels overwhelming. I broke down in tears yesterday realizing all we are leaving behind. I am feeling most sad about not seeing our children and friends. I know it's a different world now and we can Facetime, call, and email whenever we want. It surprises me to find out how much I need my people. I am going to keep this going much like a journal I think. I know you can print out your blog with certain companies. This will be a great keepsake in the future to my children and grandchildren I hope. 

Our biggest stress so far is getting everything in the car and deciphering emails from the mission office. We wish they would make things a little more clear. We are waiting to hear about our assigned arrival time to enter the MTC next week. We have been staying with Ann and her family. Enjoying family time and some of our grandchildren. 

Yesterday at church in Relief Society we studied the talk from the April conference by the relief society president. Jesus Christ is Relief by C. Johnson. It was a beautiful reminder of why we are going to serve. We will be His hands and hopefully provide relief wherever we are led in our daily work as scanners. As the talk teaches, He will carry, take away or lighten our burdens. I pray he will care for my children and grandchildren, my friends and family as we are serving. I doodled as usual during my lessons. I have set aside a Sunday journal to collect all the messages, devotionals and lessons we are taught on this mission. Here is a page from today.

On Saturday, I went to the Church History Museum to see the artwork of Minerva Teichert. My favorite piece was one of Jesus at the house of Mary and Martha where Jesus is teaching Mary. I see myself in this painting as I know Jesus will be teaching me for the next two years. I pray for my mind to be clear about His teachings and His plans for us on this mission. I also hope and have faith that He will use my talents and skills and guide me to make a difference. I am already finding new ways to use the many things I have learned these past 14 years as a teacher. I hope and pray I will feel fulfilled as I discover new uses for my previous life lessons.

Right next door to the museum is a Family Search building. Also known as the Genealogical History Building. I went inside to investigate. This is the work we will be doing. We will wear the Family Search name tags while we are serving in the Springfield Library. In the basement of the building were the scanners. In an enclosed room surrounded by glass people sat and scanned and edited documents. I felt daunted by this. Two years. In a room. Scanning. I felt the sweet comfort that there will be more to our mission than this, even though this will be the largest portion of our work. I felt the whisperings of these thoughts. "Your mission will be what you want it to be. You can seek out other opportunities to help and grow. Pay attention to the promptings that will come." I have already begun to be more aware and try to find ways to help in small ways each day. Trying to go where the spirit leads. Do what the spirit guides me to do. 

I am grateful for this time. Even though my worries are many and my thoughts leave one foot in the world I recognize that this is a time in my life I will never regret. I must put my whole heart into it. 

August 14, 2023 

Lessons from this past week were huge for me. I was feeling so displaced, unconnected, and without directions. All because my impatience was hanging out. I wanted to walk faster than I had strength. I learned quickly that we are on the Lord's timetable and all things will be revealed in due time. We needed to "JUST BE" present. Get our home settled and REST. We explored our area and took in the location of our home in relation to stores, church etc. After one week, I can honestly say I was wondering what in the world I signed up for. Scanning books is NOT exciting. It is mindless and made me miss the constant mental game that teaching was to me. It's hard not to be starting school with my friends, and setting up my classroom. For the first time in 14 years that is not what my August looks like. It's hard friends. It really is. I was feeling unimportant, unnecessary, and just a warm body to fill the space and turn the page. Today We have been here for two weeks. Although I am sad I missed "Opening Days" at ARL I am finding my place. I realize I have value and God's got this. He has a plan. 

A big reason for my change of heart was because of the scriptures. In the MTC, we heard about remembering "Lot's Wife." She looked back at her life as they were leaving with longing and turned to a pillar of salt. Instead of looking forward to the future days and the fruit that God had prepared for her family and life, she wanted what she left more. I was reminded this week as I was doing my personal study of this story. It wasn't a coincidence. I needed to hear the story again with the insight that the spirit whispered to my mind. I know I am where I am supposed to be right now. I can't look back with longing or I will be miserable here. I have to look forward and know that what lies ahead is GREATER than what I left behind. (This is hard for me because I was pretty darn happy in Blanding teaching at ARL with my people and students.) If I hold myself back from seeing the path ahead, I will miss the amazing changes that lie ahead of me. When comfort is what I think I want, I know that in reality, I want to grow and get better in the light of my Savior and His gospel and purpose. I want to "become" the monarch and not stay a caterpillar. 

Friends. This is true for you too. God loves you. He wants you to allow him to guide your feet to His glorious path. Where this path leads, is more amazing than anywhere you have ever been. I know this. I believe this. I share this with you.